The heir of the wealthy founder of the renowned fashion brand Mango has been taken into custody by authorities in Barcelona under suspicion of involvement in his father’s fatal mountain accident in 2024.
Jonathan, the 45-year-old son of Isak Andic, was detained after an inquiry carried out by the police and court, as reported by Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.
Despite being at the center of the investigation, the entrepreneur has consistently maintained his innocence and claimed that his 71-year-old father’s death was accidental.
A spokesperson for the Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police force in Catalonia, confirmed the arrest of Jonathan Andic on suspicion of his father’s homicide.
Isak Andic, a Turkish native, tragically passed away on December 14, 2024, during a visit to the Collbato Caves in the Montserrat mountains with his son Jonathan.
Reports from Spanish newspaper El Pais in the previous year revealed that the authorities were examining Mr. Andic’s demise, leading to Jonathan being officially placed under scrutiny by the courts after initially being treated as a witness.
A family representative for the Andic’s stated that they have refrained from commenting on Isak Andic’s death and expressed readiness to cooperate with the ongoing legal procedures.
The investigation into the case has been subjected to a secrecy order by the overseeing judge, a common practice in Spain to safeguard the integrity of judicial inquiries, thereby limiting the dissemination of information by officials.
Isak Andic, who co-founded Mango with his brother Nahman in 1984, had an expansive business empire with over 14,000 employees across 2,700 stores in more than 110 countries, including 45 outlets in the UK.
The company recently announced a collaboration with Victoria Beckham to launch a special collection commemorating its 40th anniversary.
Before his untimely death, Forbes estimated Mr. Andic’s net worth at $4.5 billion, positioning him as Catalonia’s wealthiest individual and one of Spain’s most affluent figures. He possessed a private jet valued at over £25 million and a 175-foot yacht of similar worth.
Although Mr. Andic contemplated constructing the world’s largest yacht, known as Nirvana II, he ultimately decided against it. His reserved lifestyle led to minimal public appearances until 2007, and by 2010, he was the second richest man in Spain.
Following news of Isak Andic’s passing, Catalan president Salvador Illa expressed condolences and praised his significant contributions to the fashion industry, both locally and globally, underscoring his enduring impact on Catalonia’s economic landscape.